Wednesday, 10 June 2015

9 Jun - Fish! Fish!

Hello!

"It's time to kill fish." These were the first words that crackled through our VHF, and shortly thereafter, Max got ready to join Gary, Tim, Danny, and Hans in the pass. Max told me that he thought he would be back earlier than yesterday, but I didn't hold my breath.

With all the kids still on the beach after their campout, the moms were also free to go snorkelling. Jesus offered to stay with Benjamin, and I had one of the nicest snorkelling mornings I can remember. It was only myself and Jenny (Lumbaz) and we did two long runs through the pass. The tide was flowing into the lagoon, so we started at the mouth of the pass and floated in with the current, without having to worry about being swept out to sea. Especially in the shallower areas, and when the sun came out from behind the clouds to brighten up all the colours, it was spectacular. I saw some big grouper, several white tipped reef sharks, and a snapper. I also saw dozens of little tropical fish whose names I didn't know. Without the kids along to identify all the fish for me, I just had to enjoy the variety :)

I made it back to Fluenta before Benjamin had any meltdowns, and we made some more tropical pancakes and smoothies to continue using our pineapples, papayas, and bananas... of course everything is ripening (spoiling) all at once. Shortly before 2pm (admittedly 45 min earlier than yesterday) Max came back - with a fish! I will leave it to him to tell you about spearing it, but he used some techniques he has been learning from the others, and they paid off! He came home with a colourful parrot fish (lovely white meat) and I think we will be enjoying ceviche or poission cru tomorrow :)

After two days of construction, the kids' camp is a hive of activity. There are several tents set up in a circle, as well as at least two palm-branch shelters, and a big firepit. I was able to have a good look at it for the first time today when we got together at sunset for a potluck BBQ. Our friend Hans (Nautilus) (who so capably built fires for all of us in the Tuomotus) is back and in form here in Fiji :) Katrien, Jenny, and I managed a short yoga practice (Gary was frying fish with our now-famous recipe) and our whole anchorage had the chance to socialize. The beach had been cleared of all parents by 7:45, when we left the evening and the fire to the kids ... how times have changed! Deanne (Exodus) and I were reminiscing about our potlucks and campfires in the Sea of Cortez when Johnathan was the littlest boy, their sons were in the middle, and the boys from Northern Passage and Sweet Dreams were the big ones. Now Alex is big, Johnathan is medium, and another little boy has come along to sit in the lap of the biggest one as all the kids sit by the fire. What lovely memories :)

Of course, for our family and friends at home, all these names are just names, but something special is happening here as our small group of families has the opportunity to build community through not just one, but two (or more) seasons. We are like a floating village of our own. Perhaps it feels all the more precious because we know that it is also temporary. By this time next year, most of us will be in different places and several will be at various stages of re-integrating into "normal" society. This is a magical sojourn in an amazing place along the way. For me, it also begs the question of how do we recreate some of the traits of our little group when we return home? How do we make time for our kids, for each other, for our friends, for ourselves, given the demands of that same "normal" society? I hope that this journey will change us and our priorities so that when the time comes, we will know :) The first step is probably to gravitate towards people who are already doing this...